Clamp for leather-stretching machines.



N0. BQIJUB. B. L. BBAUCHT. Patented jam |4, |902 K. D. BRAUDHT, Guardian of said H. L. BRAUCHT, MIMI. I

CLAMP FOR LEATHER STRETCHING MACHINES.

(Application filed Mar. 10, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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ROY L. .BRAUOIIT, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA; KATIE D. BRAUOI-IT, AS GUARDIAN OF SAID ROY L. BRAUOHT, MINOR, ASSIGNOR TO THE. W. S. NOTT (30., A CORPORATION.

CLAMP FOR LEATHER-STRETCHING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,106, dated January 14:, 1902. Application filed Mai-011 10, 1900. Serial No. 8,120. (No model.)

To aZZ whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROY L. BRAUCHT, of the city of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Olamps for Leather-Stretching Machines, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in the means for holding the leather in leatherstretching machines, and particularly to such machines as are employed in the preparation of leather for use in the manufacture of belting; and one of the objects I have in view is to provide a leather-holder that may be quickly applied to and detached from the edge of the leather without injury thereto.

Another object is to provide a holder that may be so applied even though the edge be of irregular shape.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detail specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of aclamp embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the linens a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section onliney of Fig. 2. Fig. A is a horizontal sectional view on a plane above the movable jaw, showing a modified locking device for the head.

In the manufacture of belting and for some other purposes it is customary to employ machines for stretching the leather, and it has been customary to connect the ends of the leather to be stretched to the stretching mechanism by means of clamps extending entirely across the leather, and in some instances nails or pins that pass through the leather near the edge have been employed. The former method causes considerable waste, and the latter method is an inconvenient way of connecting the leather to the machine. In carrying out myinvention I provide holders that can be set at any angle and can be quickly and easily connected to or disconnected from the leather and withwhich there is no danger-of tearing the leather.

In all of the drawings, 2 represents the head of the clamp, the upper surface 3 of the lower part of which forms the face of the fixed jaw of the clamp. The face of the jaw is preferably provided with transverse grooves and ribs, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. A movable jaw 5 is pivoted to the head 2, and its face is preferably provided with one or more ribs 7, adapted to engage a groove or grooves in the face of the stationary jaw, so as to insure the clamping of the leather between the two jaws, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The movable jaw may be secured to the head 2 by any suitable means. Ihave here shown the movable jaw provided with lugs or cars 8, through which pass the screws or pins 9, that connectsaid movable jaw with the head 2. (See Fig. 2.) A camlever 10 is preferably provided 011 the head 2, and it is adapted to bear upon the movable jaw 5, so that by turning said lever upon its pivot or fulcrum said jaw may be pressed and held against the rigid jaw.

The head 2 is pivoted, preferably at or near the center thereof, upon a bar 11, which is capable of being adj ustably connected to the leatherstretching machine. Any suitable means may be employed for connecting this bar to the machine. As here shown a movable bed-piece 12 is provided with a transverse rib 13, having one or more openings 14 therein, and a bar 11 is provided with a series of notches 15. This bar may be adjusted to any desired position, and a latch 16, dropped into one of the notches, locks the bar in this position. Any suitable means may be employed for pivot-ally connecting the head to the bar 11. I have here shown the bar provided with an upright stud 17, which engages a central hole in the head 2. lVith this form of connection the head may be removed from the bar at any time by simply lifting it off the stud 17.

The rear edge of the head 2 is preferably of curved form and is provided with a series of notches 18, adapted to be engaged by a latch 19, arranged to slide in lugs 22 on the bar 11. A spring 20 engages the latch and tends to hold it projected into one of the notches 18.

The latch may also be provided with a pin or knob 21, by means of which it may be drawn out of the notch 18 with which it is in engagement when it is desired to change the position of the head.

Instead of using the spring latch for securing the head at any desired angle on the bar, I may use the modified construction shown in Fig. 4 or any other suitable means for locking the head at any desired angle to the bar. As shown in Fig. 4:, the hole in the head through which the stud 17 passes is of sufficient size to permit a slight movement of the head longitudinally of the bar 11, and the stud is provided with a rearwardly-projecting lip or flange 23, having a notched edge adapted to engage corresponding notches in the head 2. By this means when it is desired to change the angle of the head a slight movement is given either to the head or to the bar, so as to disengage the notches. The head is then turned to the desired angle and a reverse movement is given either to the head or to the bar to cause the notches to again come in engagement.

In use a suitable number of such clamps will be employed arranged side by side on the bed-piece and adjusted so as to engage the margin of the leather. It will be noted that the clamp may be turned on its pivot, so as to bringits clamping edge into position at any desired angle to the bar, and that at whatever angle the edge of the clamp stands the pull will always be on the center of the head.

In place of the cam-lever for moving and securing the movable jaw I may employ an equivalent device for the purpose.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown a spring 24 arranged to engage the movable jaw and to raise it from the fixed jaw whenever it is released by the cam-lever. spring may be employed or not, as preferred.

I do not limit myself to the details of the construction herein shown and described, as

the same may obviously be varied in many particulars without departing from my invention.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A holder for a leather-stretching machine, comprising, in combination, a suitable bar, a head pivotally connected therewith and having a swinging lateral movement with respect thereto, means for locking said head at any desired angle with respect to said bar, a fixed'jaw provided on said head, amovable jaw pivotally supported on said head and adapted to engage said fixed jaw, and a looking device adapted to engage said movable jaw and force it into engagement with and lock it against said fixed jaw, substantially as described.

2. Aclamp for leather-stretching machines, comprising, in combination, a suitable bar, a head pivotally supported upon said bar and adapted to swing in the plane of the same, means for locking said head at any desired angle with respect to said bar, a fixed jaw provided on said head, a movable jaw pivotally supported upon said head and adapted to engage said fixed jaw, and a cam-lever arranged to engage said movable jaw and lock the same in engagement With said fixed jaw, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a bar provided with a vertical pivot, of a head mounted upon said pivot and adapted to swing thereon and provided with a face forming a fixed jaw, a movable jaw arranged upon said head, means for clamping said movable jaw against said fixed jaw, and a spring-latch upon said bar adapted to engage any one of a series of notches upon said head, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a leather-stretching machine,the com bination with a bed-piece having a transverse rib provided with an opening, of a bar provided with notches and arranged to slide lengthwise in such opening, a latch for engaging the said notches to lock the bar to the rib, and a leather-holder connected to said coupling-bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of March, 1900, at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

ROY L. BRAUOHT.

In presence of MYRTLE L. HUNT, A. 0. PAUL. 

